Localization device display method and apparatus

• US 20040105086A1
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aesculap AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Aesculap AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Casson, Francois Boux de, Leitner, Francois
• Granted Patent: US 7,319,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1714 for applying tendons or ligaments implements for applying tendons or ligaments A61F2/0805
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/105 Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2068 using pointers, e.g. pointers having reference marks for determining coordinates of body points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation

Abstract

A localization device display method and apparatus for displaying different views, e.g., of different magnification, based on the proximity of the tip of a pointer tracked by the localization device to a reference location identified by the localization device. The display method and apparatus may be incorporated into a surgical navigation system for use in identifying a location for drilling a femoral tunnel in an ACL repair procedure.

Claims

1. A method of generating a display for use with a localization device, the localization device identifying a reference location, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the distance between a pointer tip and said reference location; and

displaying one of a plurality of views based on said monitored distance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring step comprises at least the step of:

calculating the magnitude of a vector extending between said pointer tip and said reference location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said monitoring step further comprises at least the step of:

tracking said pointer tip with the localization device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying step comprises at least the steps of:

displaying a first of said plurality of views;

switching from said first view to a second of said plurality of views when said pointer tip is less than a first distance from said reference location; and

switching from said second view to said first view when said pointer tip is greater than a second distance from said reference location.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, when displayed, said first and second views are displayed on a monitor associated with the localization device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said first and second distances are different.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said first distance is about 2 millimeters and said second distance is about 10 millimeters.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said second view has a greater magnification than said first view.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein said first view comprises at least:

a targeting system comprising displayable arrows indicating the direction said pointer tip has to travel to reach said reference location.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said first view further comprises at least:

an image of an object associated with said reference location

11. The method of claim 4, wherein said second view comprises at least:

a magnified view of a surface in the vicinity of said reference location; and

a virtual guide at the center of said second view, the center of said second view corresponding to said pointer tip.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said virtual guide changes colors based on the distance between said pointer tip and a second reference location determined by the localization device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying step comprises at least the steps of:

displaying a first of said plurality of views;

switching from said first view to a second of said plurality of views when said pointer tip is less than a first distance from said reference location for a first predefined period of time; and

switching from said second view to said first view when said pointer tip is greater than a second distance from said reference location for a second predefined period of time.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said reference location is a location on a femur for drilling a femoral tunnel that will produce the best calculated isometricity.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising at least the step of:

selecting an optimum location for drilling a femoral tunnel in the vicinity of said reference location based on feedback from the localization device.

16. A localization device, said localization device identifying a reference location, said localization device comprising:

sensors for tracking a marker associated with a pointer tip;

a monitor; and

a computer coupled to said sensors and said monitor for monitoring the distance between said pointer tip and said reference location and selecting a view for display on said monitor from a plurality of views based on the monitored distance.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said computer comprises at least:

means for calculating the magnitude of a vector extending between said pointer tip and said reference location.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein said computer comprises at least:

means for displaying a first of said plurality of views;

means for switching from said first view to a second of said plurality of views when said pointer tip is less than a first distance to said reference location; and

means for switching from said second view to said first view when said pointer tip is greater than a second distance from said reference location.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said first and second distances are different.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said second view has a greater magnification than said first view.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein said first view comprises at least:

a targeting system comprising displayable arrows indicating the direction said pointer tip has to travel to reach said reference location.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein said second view comprises at least:

a magnified view of a surface in the vicinity of said reference location centered around the location of said pointer tip.

23. The device of claim 16, wherein said computer comprises at least:

means for displaying a first of said plurality of views;

means for switching from said first view to a second of said plurality of views when said pointer tip is less than a first distance to said reference location for a first predefined period of time; and

means for switching from said second view to said first view when said pointer tip is greater than a second distance from said reference location for a second predefined period of time.

24. The device of claim 16, wherein said reference location is a location on a femur for drilling a femoral tunnel that has the best calculated isometricity.

25. A computer program product for displaying views in a localization device, said localization device identifying a reference location, said computer program product comprising:

computer readable program code embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer readable program code comprising at least;

computer readable program code for monitoring the distance between a pointer tip and said reference location; and

computer readable program code for displaying one of a plurality of views based on said monitored distance.

26. The product of claim 25, wherein said computer readable program code for monitoring comprises at least:

computer readable program code for calculating the magnitude of a vector extending between said pointer tip and said reference location.

27. The product of claim 25, wherein said computer readable program code for displaying comprises at least:

computer readable program code for displaying a first of said plurality of views;

computer readable program code for switching from said first view to a second of said plurality of views when said pointer tip is less than a first distance to said reference location; and

computer readable program code for switching from said second view to said first view when said pointer tip is greater than a second distance from said reference location.

28. The product of claim 25, wherein said computer readable program code for displaying comprises at least:

computer readable program code for displaying a first of said plurality of views;

computer readable program code for switching from said first view to a second of said plurality of views when said pointer tip is less than a first distance to said reference location for a first predefined period of time; and

computer readable program code for switching from said second view to said first view when said pointer tip is greater than a second distance from said reference location for a second predefined period of time.